THE WILLINK COMMISSION REPORT OF "1958"

1. “More than 98% of people who inhabit this area (the ‘Igbo Plateau’ of the Eastern region) are Igbo and speak one language, though of course with certain differences of dialect. There are nearly five million of them and they are too many for the soil to support: they are vigorous and intelligent and have pushed outward in every direction, seeking a livelihood by trade or in service in the surrounding areas of the Eastern Region, in the Western Region, in the North and outside Nigeria. They are no more popular with their neighbours than is usual in the case of an energetic and expanding people whose neighbours have a more leisurely outlook on life.”

2. “Though there has been no great kingdom or indigenous culture in the Eastern Region, the coastal chiefs grew on their trade with the (European merchant) ships and they adopted customs, clothing and housing more advanced than those of the peoples of the interior on whom they had at first preyed for slaves. They came during the 19th Century to regard the people of the interior as backward and ignorant, and it was therefore a blow to their pride, as well as to their pockets, when the Ibos began to push outwards into the surrounding fringe of the country and particularly into the Calabar area, to take up land, to grow rich, to own houses and lorries and occupy posts in public services and in the services of large trading firms.”
“It was among the Igbos, formerly despised by the people of Calabar as source of slaves and as a backward people of the interior, now feared and disliked as energetic and educated, that the first political party formed.”

3. “It is important to remember that of this (Ogoja) Province’s 1,082,000 inhabitants, 723,000 are Ibos, almost entirely in Abakaliki and Afikpo (Divisions), while the census classifies 350,000 as “Other Nigerian Tribes.”

4. The Rivers Province …includes the two divisions of Brass and Degema, both overwhelmingly Ijaw, and the Ogoni Division. The former Rivers Division also includes over 300,000 Ibos of whom 250,000 are in Ahoada Division and 45,000 in Port Harcourt. Port Harcourt is a town of recent growth and of rapidly increasing importance; it is built on land that blonged originally to an outlying branch of the Ibo tribe, the Diobus, but is largely inhabited by the Ibos from the interior who have come to trade or seek employment….Of the total 747,000 in the Rivers province, 305,000 are Igbos, 240,000 are Ijaws and 156,000 are Ogonis.”

5. “The strip to the south of the Igbo block, is physically, divided by a block of Igbo territory, tipped by the important Igbo town of Port Harcourt and tribally divided between the Ijaws and the Ogonis.”

6. “In the whole of this non-Igbo area there is present in varying degree some fear of being over-run, commercially and politically, by the Igbos….. if Ahoada and Port Harcourt, which are really Igbo, are considered with the solid centre of Ibo population, there are 54 seats for the Ibo area and 30 for COR (Calabar, Ogoja and Rivers) in (Eastern Regional House of Assembly).”

THE FEARS AND GRIEVANCES OF MINORITIES:
7. “It was suggested (by non-Igbo petitioners) that it was the deliberate object of the Ibo majority in the Region to fill every post with Ibos (in public post and services).….when, however we came to consider specific complaints about the composition of public bodies, we found them in many cases exaggerated or unreasonable.”

8. “The allegation was put forward by counsel (to petitioners) that the Judiciary (when not European) was predominantly Igbo, with the implication that this caused fear among those who are not Ibos. But it was clearly stated in evidence by Dr. Udoma, the leader of UNIP, that no occasion could be adduced of the judiciary acting with partiality. The fact is that the legal profession is largely Igbos and the reasons for this do not seem to be Government action. It is therefore inevitable that there should be an Igbo preponderance among Judges and Magistrates. Further, it is the declared policy of Government that the Judiciary should be federal and this does not indicate a desire to control it. Again, the operation and composition of Public Service Commission here, as in the West, appeared to us in no way open to reproach.”

9. “In the Police, which in this region alone is wholly Federal, the number of Ibos in the higher appointments is not out of proportion to the Ibos in the region. The force is now federally controlled and although there are a large number of Ibos in the lower ranks, this is due to the fact that it has for long been a tradition among the Ibos to offer themselves for recruitment in this force in far greater numbers than any other tribe.”

10. “we noted that in five years, 1952 – 1957, from a total of 412 secondary scholarships, 216 were awarded to persons living in the COR areas, while the figures for post-secondary scholarships were 211 out of 623. The latter is about the right proportion of one-third, the former considerably in excess. It was suggested that scholarships awarded to non-Ibos were of an inferior kind and that the best scholarships went to Ibos, but we were, unable to see that this claim held any validity. On the evidence before us, we conclude that the allegations of discriminations in the matter of scholarships are unjustified.”

11. “It was further suggested that loans by the Eastern Regional Finance Corporation, the Eastern Region Development Board, and the Eastern Region Development Corporation were made with some degree of preference to Ibos. It did appear that most of the loans made by these bodies were to Ibos, but that is not to say that this was necessarily improper. Ibos constitute two thirds of the population of the region and have a bigger share of financial and commercial responsibility than their numbers warrant.”

12. “That there should be modern streetlight in Onitsha, and not Calabar, was also quoted as example of discrimination; it proved however that Onitsha Urban District Council had financed this measure from their own resources.”

13. “The question of land was repeatedly raised, it being resented by the Efiks and Ibibios that the Igbos should acquire land at all in their territory while the methods by which it was obtained were also questioned. There is no doubt that on the Igbo Plateau there is insufficient land for the people and the Igbos are thrusting outwards where possible they acquire land and use it either for cultivation or building…..This is a matter which will require legislation sooner or later and it will be delicate to handle, but the economic process is in itself healthy and we had little sympathy with a witness who remarked that there is much undeveloped land in the district and he was anxious that it should not fall into the hand of the Igbos… We believe that Governments in Nigeria should be careful not to try to protect minorities by introducing measures that would restrict development and progress.

N/B: IKWERRE, ETCHE, EKPEYE, OPOPO, IBANI(BONNY),URATTA,OGBA, NDOKI ARE ALL INDIGINEOUS IGBO EXTRACTION IN RIVERS STATE(RIVERS IGBOS).BEFORE INDEPENDENCE THERE WAS NO IDENTITY CRISIS AMONG THEM.THIS IS WILLINKS COMMISSION REPORT TO QUEEN OF ENGLAND 1958.

©️Udumeze Ukwu

If Simplyleo reads this, he will not sleep for two weeks. In fact Willink was an IPOB miscreant

Igbos in South East are very okay. Igbos in South south are okay too but if you decide to deny yourself your igbotic identity just because of selfish politics, that's your business

If truely this report is not fabricated from the original, why do you reject being in Nigeria while accepting the report as true reflection of facts, if the two are products of 'colonial masters' aimed to suite their agenda as you like to claim?

So the so-called Igbo domination was a farce.

SLAP44:
If Simplyleo reads this, he will not sleep for two weeks. In fact Willink was an IPOB miscreant

https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1956/jul/24/eastern-region-nigeria-commission-of



Search Hansard

HANSARD 1803–2005 → 1950s → 1956 → July 1956 → 24 July 1956 → Commons Sitting
EASTERN REGION, NIGERIA (COMMISSION OF INQUIRY)
HC Deb 24 July 1956 vol 557 cc215-21215
§The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Alan Lennox-Boyd) With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I should like to make a statement, which is rather long.
A dispute has arisen in the Eastern Region of Nigeria about the relationship between the Premier, Dr. Azikiwe, and the African Continental Bank Limited.

This Bank was founded by Dr. Azikiwe. On assuming office the Premier informed the Governor that he had resigned his directorship of the bank. He had enterprises with which he has been associated are still shown as large shareholders in it. I have been informed that during 1955 £877,000 of public money was invested in the Bank—and other large sums deposited with it—out of funds made available from Marketing Board reserves to the Finance Corporation, which the Eastern Region Government had established.

I have also been informed that, following this investment, the bank was a party to certain documents contemplating that the Premier should be life Chairman of the bank and purporting to give him the right to nominate certain other directors.

As long ago as last November I took the matter up with the Premier in London and we have been in correspondence since. In April of this year Mr. Eyo, a member of the Regional House of Assembly, who had until then been the Government's Chief Whip in that House and Deputy-Speaker and Chairman of the Regional Development Corporation, tabled a Motion in the House relating to the association of the Premier with the Bank. He subsequently called for the appointment of an independent commission of inquiry. Dr. Azikiwe has now instituted libel actions against Mr. Eyo and certain newspapers.

On 14th July, after receiving a report from the Governor, I sent a personal message through him inviting the Premier to agree to my appointing a commission of inquiry. I considered it essential that these matters should be fully cleared up before the next Nigerian Constitutional Conference. This Conference will consider further constitutional advance for 216Nigeria, and, in particular, the grant of regional self-government to those regions that desire it, in accordance with the undertaking given by Her Majesty's Government in 1953 as recorded in the London Conference Report.

I pointed out that such a commission was appointed in the United Kingdom when last the conduct of a Minister was called in question. I suggested that I should appoint the commission as at least one of the matters to be inquired into is reserved to the Federal Government and the Governor of the Region is not competent to appoint a commission to inquire into federal matters.

On 16th July I received from the Premier a message couched in terms which, I must confess, disappointed me. His message, which has been quoted extensively in the Press, implied a rejection of my invitation. Shortly afterwards, I was informed that the Premier and his colleagues, after considering my message, advised the Governor of the Region to appoint a commission with a sole commissioner of their own choosing. Such a commissioner could not inquire into matters reserved to the Federal Government, of which banking is one.

On 18th July I made a further approach to the Premier, explaining this again. I also said that, although it would not be proper for the Premier to suggest the full membership of the commission since he would be personally involved in its proceedings, I would nevertheless be prepared to invite the person whom he had proposed as sole commissioner to be a member of it. I said this as I was satisfied that the person proposed was suitable for appointment.

I regret to say that the Premier rejected this second approach, also. Instead, he and his colleagues now advised the Governor to appoint a committee of inquiry and nominated three persons to serve on it. Such a committee could not compel the attendance of witnesses or heat evidence on oath, and its investigations of matters reserved to the Federal Government would be of doubtful propriety. The Governor did not consider that to proceed in this way was, in the words of his Royal Instructions "in the interests of public faith" and informed the Ministers that he felt unable to act on their advice. This decision of the Governor, who has a most difficult and 217invidious task, has my unqualified support.

In these circumstances, I have decided that in order to secure a speedy, impartial and full investigation as to the investments made in the bank, and the grave allegations that have been made—matters closely affecting the conduct of Government—it is necessary that I should now appoint a Commission of Inquiry. I have invited Sir Stafford Foster-Sutton, the Chief Justice of the Federation of Nigeria, to be Chairman, and he has accepted my invitation. The names of the other members and the terms of reference will be announced as soon as possible.

I earnestly hope that the Premier and his colleagues will accept the decision I have reached as in their own best interests and in the best interests of public life in Nigeria as a whole. I need hardly say that there is no question of any attempt on Her Majesty's Government's part to impose a British banking monopoly in Nigeria, or to dictate financial policy.

The Commission will, I am sure, complete its work and report with all possible speed, but I am afraid that its appointment must almost inevitably mean some delay in convening the Constitutional Conference, which was to have met on 19th September. I hope that this will not be long, and I have asked the other Nigerian Governments to accept this delay, regrettable though it is to all of us, because in the interests of the Territory as a whole these serious allegations must first be fully investigated.

At the same time, I have made it clear to them that Her Majesty's Government stand by the undertaking given in 1953 about the grant of regional self-government to those regions that desire it. I trust that after the Commission has reported we shall be able to resume our work together.

§Mr. Bevan I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that this is a very serious statement and may have serious consequences in Nigeria. First, I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has any idea how long the September Conference will be postponed, because I am certain that that will have a bearing on the response to his statement in Nigeria?
Secondly, may I ask whether it was not possible for him to have set up this 218Commission a little earlier, so as not to interfere with the September Conference?

Thirdly, is it not a fact—as has not been made in the statement—that the Speaker in the Eastern Nigerian Parliament stated that an inquiry could not be held, because proceedings were taking place in court and that such a committee, or rather, the Resolution of the Assembly, would be sub judice; and that the Commission which the right hon. Gentleman has set up is the only sort of judicial tribunal which can, in fact, withdraw proceedings from the court in the meantime? If the right hon. Gentleman made that statement, it would be clear to people in Nigeria.

Fourthly, would the right hon. Gentleman also recognise, with some degree of humility on behalf of himself and his hon. Friends, that the association of politicians with banks is quite notorious in Great Britain as well as Nigeria?

§Mr. Lennox-Boyd Save for the ending thrust of the right hon. Gentleman, I am grateful for the helpful questions he has asked. I do realise that this is a serious matter, but I could not reconcile it with my responsibility to take any action other than that which I have taken. I very much hope that the restrained way in which he and other hon. Members have taken the statement will also be echoed in the Eastern Region and in Nigeria as a whole.
About the postponement which this will almost certainly mean for the September Conference, I should not like to bind myself to any particular period, save to say that I hope it will be a short postponement. I very much hope that the facts will justify this expectation.

I have taken action in this matter as soon as it was possible for me to do so and I shall do all I can to see that the necessary preparatory work is carried out as quickly as possible. I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that the Speaker in the Eastern Region Assembly did say that, in a sense, the matter was sub judice, because of the forthcoming libel action, and that was the reason why this was not ventilated in the Eastern Region Assembly, where, indeed, the Premier had asked that it should be so ventilated. I share with him the view that the action I have taken is the best possible way in which this matter can be brought to a speedy decision.

219
§Sir R. Robinson Can my right hon. Friend say why he was not content with the suggestion that Dr. Azikiwe's libel action might well settle this matter?
§Mr. Lennox-Boyd This is a public matter, requiring public inquiry, and cannot, I think, be left to private litigation. Apart from that, private litigation might well prove very protracted, and even longer delay the convening of the Conference. The issues in the libel action might not cover the full field which should be investigated by the Commission.
§Mr. Fenner Brockway Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that all of us are concerned that Nigeria and the rest of West Africa shall progress in an orderly way towards self-government, and that it is in that spirit that we are asking our questions?
Is it not the case that Dr. Azikiwe and the other Ministers of Eastern Nigeria have to go even beyond the point of Ministers in this country? Have they not only to resign their directorships in any limited liability companies but actually to reveal to the Governor all their financial interests? Was that not done by Dr. Azikiwe? Is it not the case that Dr. Azikiwe was appointed as permanent chairman of this bank without his own knowledge and that he repudiated that appointment and resigned it when he became Prime Minister?

Did not the Governor himself recommend that the Eastern Nigerian Government should invest these large sums in this bank? Will the terms of reference to the Commission not only refer to Dr. Azikiwe and his colleagues, but to those who are responsible for British administration in Eastern Nigeria?

§Mr. Lennox-Boyd The. first three questions which the hon. Gentleman asked are matters to which, clearly, the Commission will pay attention. It would be wrong for me to make any comment on them in advance of the sitting of the Commission. As for the action that the Governor took, undoubtedly he is anxious—as I am—to encourage indigenous banks in Nigeria and elsewhere, and the advice the Governor gave and the action taken as part of his advice will also be a matter which the Commission will inquire into.
220
§Mr. Tilney Would my right hon. Friend consider the appointment as members of the Commission of those from other Commonwealth Territories?
§Mr. Lennox-Boyd I certainly would not rule that out.
§Mr. J. Johnson Is it not a fact that alleged corruption like this has been talked about as long ago as 1953, when there was a crisis in the Legislative Council in Enugu associated with the Natal Council of Nigeria and Cameroons Party?
Is it not a fact that there is nothing new in all this?

Christistruth00:

Long throat.

Dominate,dominate, dominate..

Fulani and Igbo..

[s]

Cosbyrich:

Long throat.

Dominate,dominate, dominate..

Fulani and Igbo..

[/s]

Summary please

Please we will like to read the part of the report that dealt with Western Nigeria.

I need to compare the WN findings with the EN findings

Truth is I don't care about this south south people ....let's form our Igbo nation with the few south south igbos that accept they are igbos

After airports ...we should come together to build our ports ...start a shipping line and link them by rail to our major cities ....in our Igbo nation

Then let me see the maga ...that would block Igbo access to sea ...then they would sea what Igbo dominance really looks like

South South can go to hell for all I care really ...what have igbos gained from them ? Tell me ?

BlowYourMind:
Summary please

Zik introduced Corruption into Government in Nigeria in the 1950s using his position as Premier of the Eastern Region for Personal Profit for himself , his relations and his Friends.

Igbochief001:
Truth is I don't care about this south south people ....let's form our Igbo nation with the few south south igbos that accept they are igbos

After airports ...we should come together to build our ports ...start a shipping line and link them by rail to our major cities ....in our Igbo nation

Then let me see the maga ...that would block Igbo access to sea ...then they would sea what Igbo dominance really looks like

South South can go to hell for all I care really ...what have igbos gained from them ? Tell me ?

imagine such arrogance! Who in Nigeria needs you Igbos, south south have no association with you guys rather it is your supreme cowards that is attaching themselves with us.

sageb:
imagine such arrogance! Who in Nigeria needs you Igbos, south south have no association with you guys rather it is your supreme cowards that is attaching themselves with us.

Fine we apologise for that ....it won't happen again ipob are on their own

Igbos have lost so much because of South south ...the war was a South South man's fault ...buhari hate igbos because we supported a South South man ...yet u lots have zero appreciation for us

Igbochief001:

Fine we apologise for that ....it won't happen again ipob are on their own

Igbos have lost so much because of South south ...the war was a South South man's fault ...buhari hate igbos because we supported a South South man ...yet u lots have zero appreciation for us

The number one problem with we Igbos is that we’re too naive, too trusting and always feel the need to play fair, gentlemanly and in accordance with the rules! A lot of our elite, right from the time of Zik, have these attributes: while others were thinking of the interest of their ethnic grp and religion, Zik was placing ‘one Nigeria’ before everything else! Another ethnic grp wouldn’t have given GEJ the amount of support we gave him when their kinsman wasn’t even the running mate!

This is why i’m in support of Mazi Kanu and IPOB today! No more Mr nice guy!

PROUDIGBO:


The number one problem with we Igbos is that we’re too naive, too trusting and always feel the need to play fair, gentlemanly and in accordance with the rules! A lot of our elite, right from the time of Zik, have these attributes: while others were thinking of the interest of their ethnic grp and religion, Zik was placing ‘one Nigeria’ before everything else! Another ethnic grp wouldn’t have given GEJ the amount of support we gave him when their kinsman wasn’t even the running mate!

This is why i’m in support of Mazi Kanu and IPOB today! No more Mr nice guy!

Ipob is still making the same mistake ....leave the ijaws alone ...fight for an only Igbo nation

PROUDIGBO:


The number one problem with we Igbos is that we’re too naive, too trusting and always feel the need to play fair, gentlemanly and in accordance with the rules! A lot of our elite, right from the time of Zik, have these attributes: while others were thinking of the interest of their ethnic grp and religion, Zik was placing ‘one Nigeria’ before everything else! Another ethnic grp wouldn’t have given GEJ the amount of support we gave him when their kinsman wasn’t even the running mate!

This is why i’m in support of Mazi Kanu and IPOB today! No more Mr nice guy!

You guys are not as open minded as you want to sound and you know it.

Tell me the last time Igbos operated within the inner circles of power in Nigeria before Jonathan came on board. Igbos benefited in terms of appointments in Jonathan's government more than ever and that was one of the reasons the Yorubas were against him. I remember the phrase in Igboland when you got the Chief of Army Staff, SSG etc was "he has ended the war for us". You forget so quickly.

I also remember that during the Yar Adua issue, when every regions, organizations etc including the northerners were demanding that Yar Adua transmit power to Jonathan, it was the South East governors that met in Enugu to declare that "the status quo be maintained". It's on record.

Don't come here and start talking nonsense with your selective amnesia, just because people don't want to fall for your deceptive antics and unholy agenda.

Tranquill:


You guys are not as open minded as you want to sound and you know it.

Tell me the last time Igbos operated within the inner circles of power in Nigeria before Jonathan came on board. Igbos benefited in terms of appointments in Jonathan's government more than ever and that was one of the reasons the Yorubas were against him. I remember the phrase in Igboland when you got the Chief of Army Staff, SSG etc was "he has ended the war for us". You forget so quickly.

I also remember that during the Yar Adua issue, when every regions, organizations etc including the northerners were demanding that Yar Adua transmit power to Jonathan, it was the South East governors that met in Enugu to declare that "the status quo be maintained". It's on record.

Don't come here and start talking nonsense with your selective amnesia, just because people don't want to fall for your deceptive antics and unholy agenda.

Dude, if you're gonna quote me at least try and make some sense! Your argument is over the place in your failed attempt to try and critique my post!

You say the Yoruba were against GEJ because Igbos 'benefited in terms of appointments more than ever'? How the fuc/k is that any of my business? See me see wahala oh! What's the nexus between that and my assertion that Ndigbo can be 'too naive, too trusting and always feel the need to play fair, gentlemanly and in accordance with the rules!'?

Abi you've not read posts where Buhari minions -while trying to sell the false narrative that their master is kind-hearted, just and fair to Ndigbo- say GEJ didn't put any infrastructure in place in the south-east yet we supported him in 2015? This assertion is true to some extent, but that should tell you there were other considerations Ndigbo had for supporting GEJ in 2015: considerations like believing it would be unfair not to give GEJ -and by extension the south-south- his two terms in office; southern solidarity and making a point to the core muslim north that they don't own the country or have monopoly of the presidency; the belief GEJ would focus more in his second term on delivering more projects and infrastructure to the south-east and south-south; etc.

The fact GEJ appointed Igbos to positions that were previously denied us and gave us a equal sitting at the table with the other two major ethnicities had little bearing on our decision to support his bid for a second term in office. The only benefit we got from those appointments was that it gave us a sense of belonging that we hadn't felt since the late 60s!

I'm sure you've also noticed our political elite are not particularly liked in the south-east? Their emergence and the power they wield is a consequence of 'one Nigeria' and its corrupted leadership recruitment process! So any issues you may have with what some greedy and conscienceless governors may have done in the past, take it up with them or their children and leave Ndigbo out of it! After all, we can also point to times and instances when groups of leaders from other ethnicities said or engaged in acts not in keeping with popular sentiment!

Tranquill:


You guys are not as open minded as you want to sound and you know it.

Tell me the last time Igbos operated within the inner circles of power in Nigeria before Jonathan came on board. Igbos benefited in terms of appointments in Jonathan's government more than ever and that was one of the reasons the Yorubas were against him. I remember the phrase in Igboland when you got the Chief of Army Staff, SSG etc was "he has ended the war for us". You forget so quickly.

I also remember that during the Yar Adua issue, when every regions, organizations etc including the northerners were demanding that Yar Adua transmit power to Jonathan, it was the South East governors that met in Enugu to declare that "the status quo be maintained". It's on record.

Don't come here and start talking nonsense with your selective amnesia, just because people don't want to fall for your deceptive antics and unholy agenda.

Interesting!

Christistruth00:


Zik introduced Corruption into Government in Nigeria in the 1950s using his position as Premier of the Eastern Region for Personal Profit for himself , his relations and his Friends.

Maybe you should look into why Awolowo was imprisoned.. The Coker Commission of 1963

Tranquill:


You guys are not as open minded as you want to sound and you know it.

Tell me the last time Igbos operated within the inner circles of power in Nigeria before Jonathan came on board. Igbos benefited in terms of appointments in Jonathan's government more than ever and that was one of the reasons the Yorubas were against him. I remember the phrase in Igboland when you got the Chief of Army Staff, SSG etc was "he has ended the war for us". You forget so quickly.

I also remember that during the Yar Adua issue, when every regions, organizations etc including the northerners were demanding that Yar Adua transmit power to Jonathan, it was the South East governors that met in Enugu to declare that "the status quo be maintained". It's on record.

Don't come here and start talking nonsense with your selective amnesia, just because people don't want to fall for your deceptive antics and unholy agenda.

Maybe you should look into Obasanjo regime, and those who were they driving force in his administration

Tranquill:


You guys are not as open minded as you want to sound and you know it.

Tell me the last time Igbos operated within the inner circles of power in Nigeria before Jonathan came on board. Igbos benefited in terms of appointments in Jonathan's government more than ever and that was one of the reasons the Yorubas were against him. I remember the phrase in Igboland when you got the Chief of Army Staff, SSG etc was "he has ended the war for us". You forget so quickly.

I also remember that during the Yar Adua issue, when every regions, organizations etc including the northerners were demanding that Yar Adua transmit power to Jonathan, it was the South East governors that met in Enugu to declare that "the status quo be maintained". It's on record.

Don't come here and start talking nonsense with your selective amnesia, just because people don't want to fall for your deceptive antics and unholy agenda.

You seem to have conveniently forgotten that it was SE ministers in Yaradua's government that fought the hardest for GEJ. Ojo Maduekwe and Dora Akunyili.

You also seem to have forgotten that these SE governorrs are agents of Hausa/Fulani domination and will do anything to please their masters. Ask yourself why the SE governor's were the first to proscribe ipob before Buhari, and you can see why you shouldn't be surprised if you see them going against southern interest.